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All images copyright Katie Argyle/Out of My Mind 1991-2017.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Whatever Happened to the Chocolate Popsicle?

We've had a record-breaking summer of heat and dry weather here. I found myself, more than once, craving popsicles.

This was the go-to treat when I was a kid, walking to the corner store with my friends, each of us buying a different kind of popsicle, cracking them in the middle and sharing the different flavours with each other. I wanted to do that with Chris the other day and I *really* wanted a chocolate popsicle. They were my favorite and I haven't tried to find one in years.

Maybe it's even been decades? But you know how the memory is, it's like no time has passed so I was positive I would find popsicle, and hoping to find chocolate ones.

the lowly orange popsicle serving as an icon of the venerable twin pop
shown here as a sterling silver charm

I'd even settle for the common orange popsicle if I had to, the worst of the bunch.

not the actual freezer where I bought the lifesaver frozen thingy, but very similar

I walked to the closest corner store and peered into the freezer.

I was looking for a popsicle. The one I really wanted, but can never
get, is the tri-coloured popsicle: blue, white and pink/red. They could
have ditched the red part and just made it blue and white. That would be
my preference. Sometimes you can get the blue/white/red in the "rocket" format, but it's not the same to me.

So I got a lifesavers popsicle-like thing today. It was very yummy but triggered the popsicle memories of my youth.

Popsicle Pete! Where are you my old friend?

My popsicle quest had me trying to remember the last time I actually saw a chocolate popsicle.

fudgsicles are not popsicles

What happened to those?

It turns out that the popsicle I remember is actually called a "twin pop", developed during the Great Depression and made with the intention of sharing with you friends. They were discontinued in 1987. Sheesh. Apparently moms found them too messy and kids didn't get to the second half fast enough so they melted. Hello? Is this a case of "kids today" or what? Sometimes we didn't crack them in half but kept them whole and ate them like that and sometimes they melted CAUSE IT WAS HOT OUT and yeah, sometimes little kids get sticky gooey stuff on their hands.

I think it was probably more likely that the company could make something smaller and charge the same price for it, thereby making more money.

Popsicle Pete, CEO/CFO/Corp.

things-on-a-stick are always a good bet

I saved a few Popsicle wrappers a few times but never had enough to send away for anything. The wrappers were always super sticky and attracted ants like crazy, and held onto little bits of gravel. Then the goopy stuff got all over your hands and you just threw the wrapper out.

And as if on cue, after we finished our treats and were on our way home, an ice cream truck drove right by us. Look! Rockets right there on the back of the truck. Taunting me.
*shaking fist in the air*

11 comments:

I loved the orange, lime grape and blue best in that order! I can't believe you dissed the iconic orange in favor of the watery mess that was barely even the color of chocolate. Still - great post, comics and all!

How I miss the chocolate Popsicle and the banana ones too. I was sick a couple years ago and all I wanted was to have a cherry and an orang Popsicle. My husband went to the store and brought home Popsicle brand but-----they are now 10% fruit juice and lack the wonderful flavor of the original. If something's not broke why fix it????

In 2006 or 2007 I found the chocolate popsicle in a truck stop at the junction of highways 6 and 13 in saskatchewan. I drove by again this year but the store is closed down... Chocolate was best then orange, and green

I loved the chocolate popsicles most of all! They were common-place in the 1960's in southern Ontario, Canada. My wife doesn't believe they ever existed and thinks I made it all up! The only yucky flavours were root beer and lemon! Orange and Cherry were among the best! Great page - thanks for the walk down memory lane!

Modern marketing genius's know nothing, and should not have messed with perfection. I think Neilson's may have made them in Canada for a while.Lime and Orange were my faves, along with Pure Spring Cola.I'm on the look out for an old fashioned shape twin pop mould. Will make my own!1OldBuzzard

It's 3 years since this was written and again, I am another person in a heat wave craving the chocolate popsicle of my youth! So glad I stumbled after much searching on this - but how horrible to read - 'discontinued in 1987'!!!!!! Yikes!!!! Is it too late to grieve? I think not! Chocolate popsicles were the best!

Oh yes, the chocolate Popsicle. Best flavor, even better than banana. Loved both in Saskatchewan and southern Ontario in the 80s, Popsicles are not at all the same now. Used to be delicious, now just cheap imitations... And no chocolate :(

Was talking about these popsicles the other night. My wife kept saying they are Fudgesicles. I was saying NO they are POPSICLES, there is a difference. I totally forgot about the banana flavoured ones. Grew up eating them in Calgary, AB. As far as I know you can't get them anywhere anymore. All you can get is the sugar-free one on a stick deals now.

Printmakers' Connective GalleryOttawa, OnSeptember 8 - November 3, 2016Scenes from a CarRelief prints depicting the view from the front seat, passenger side of a 2010 Mazda 3.50/50: Against the Grain: New Works on WoodKatie Argyle and Timothy HuntAugust 1 - September 28th, 2014Burr House Gallery, Richmond Hill, ON

Perfect City Outdoor Art Exhibit:Are We There Yet? 8'x10' painted construction site panelSeptember 15th to undecided date in 2014Enterprise Blvd at Birchmount RoadMarkham, ON

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February 8th, 2012 6-7pmOn the Deck: Meet the Artists in ResidenceFree monthly gathering for our community offering a chance to informally learn about the artists’ past work, current focus and plans for their residency.607 Ashe Street, Residency Cottage Deck, Key West, FlOttawa City Hall Galleries

April 22nd to June 12, 2011

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Place and Circumstance: New Additions to the City of Ottawa's Fine Art Collection